Good weather returned to Irvine Lake this week, and trout fishing bumped up another notch, reported Jimmy Getty at the Pro Shop. "We saw lots of heavy trout limits this week", observed Getty. "There were a number of 16 pound or heavier limits of mixed rainbows and Yosemite Reds." Irvine Lake pro team leader Marlon Meade tipped, "The hottest method this week was drifting with the afternoon breeze using a splitshot-rigged Power Trout Worm or Gulp! Pinched Crawler at about 15 feet, being sure to use nothing heavier than 2-pound line due to the ultra-clear water. Best colors are white/orange and white/pink. The crappie are also just about ready to start, and a few big ones are already biting. Try drifting a white 1/16 ounce Power Grub at about 30 feet for crappie."


Meade will conduct a free seminar on trout fishing at 6:30 PM on March 20, at the Turner's location in Fountain Valley. All anglers interested in improving their skills for Irvine Lake or the upcoming high sierra opener should attend.


Trollers also did well by moving to shad or insect-replicating colors. Silver ScatterRap SCRCD07's and brown trout or brook trout-color Jointed Rapala JR05's were among the top producers. The key to trolling success was slowing down to 0.9 to 1.7 mph speeds. The Red Clay Cliffs and Rocky Point have been trolling hotspots.


Bass anglers are finding their quarry moving up rapidly, and some fish are already in spawn mode. However, bedding areas are somewhat stained, preventing sight fishing from coming on strong. Most of the largemouth are in the 2 to 4 pound class, with a few bucketmouths to 7 pounds seen. Numbers of fish are also still holding on deep hard structure. Catfish in the 3 to 8 pound class are starting to show up regularly, both for anglers targeting them with mackerel, and also incidentally for trout anglers using nightcrawlers. A handful of hybrid stripers also ate mackerel for catfish anglers and increasing numbers of crappie were being seen.


The 12th annual Sport Chalet Tournament will take place on March 15. Entry fee is $20, and registration can be done at the lake, starting at 5 AM on tournament day, with "lines in" at 6 AM. Payback is 100-percent, and there will also be thousands of dollars in raffle prizes. This is always a great event, and should be extra-special with the terrific fishing going on at the lake currently.